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From gliders to military aircraft,
cadets are immersed in aviation
NINERmagazineserving NERs nine wings
SUMMER-FALL 2012
CIVIL AIR PATROL
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2 NINER magazine summer-fall 2012
NINER Magazine is a pub-
lication of Civil Air Patrols
NorthEast Region (NER).
It is by, for and about
the nine wings that the
region encompasses:
Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode Island,
New York, New Jersey,
and Pennsylvania.
SUMMER-FALL 2012
Send stories and photos to:
Robert Stronach
Col. Christopher Hayden
Commander
Col. Merrie Knightly
Vice Commander/North
Col. Joseph Sirois
Vice Commander/South
Lt. Col. Donald Blumenfeld
Chief of Staff
Capt. Robert Stronach
Public Affairs Director
and Editor
Maj. James Ridley Sr.
Co-Editor
www.ner.cap.gov ACROSS THE REGION
ON THE COVERCadets enthusiastically immerse themselves in aviation. From across the Northeast, and
beyond, they attend the Glider Center of Excellence in Vermont. And units such as Leroy R.
Grumman Cadet Squadron arrange rides on military aircraft, like an HC-130 belonging to the
106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base on Long Island.
11 NH sponsors touch a plane.NH aerial photos help warn public.
12 NY base helps Natl Guard response.
13 NY trains with other agencies.
8 Museum honors WWII Lt. Maye.
9 MA hears ex-AF secretary.NY pilot spots missing person.
8
14 PA joins multi-wing training exercise.PA officer pens security book.
PA flocks to legislative day.
15 NY member helps save life.86 active in PA SAREX.
RI cadets support air show.
16 Notables around the Northeast.
10
14
3 Regional Conference Soars
4 Commander. Stepping it up.NY OEM likes CAP.
5 Awesome gliders.
6 Cadet Leadership School.3 cadets at Civic Academy.
FAA honors NY member.
7 CT WWII member recalls.CT guards archeological dig.
10 ME pilots fly fire watch.
USAFphoto by Sr. Airman Christopher S. MuncyPhoto by 1st Lt. Diana Hayes
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summer-fall 2012 NINER magazine 3
REGION CONFERENCE SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
BIENNIAL EVENT BOASTS ASTRONAUT, NASA SCIENTIST, CAP LEADERS
The biennial NER Conference is hit-
ting a number of firsts, soaring to new
heights, under the leadership of Plans
and Programs Officer Maj. Jim Ridley
and NER Commander Chris Hayden.Its taking place Oct. 12-14 on
Long Island, a cradle of aviation where
aviation pioneers rose to fame.
It consists oftwo concurrent con-
ferences -- one for senior members (at
Long Island Hilton) and one for cadets
(at the Air Power Museum).
It boasts special guest speakers
from NASA:
Astronaut Story Musgrove, a
keynoter for both the banquet and
cadet conference.
NASA Scientist Mark Clampin,
a keynoter for the general assembly as
well as the cadet conference.
It featuresguest lecturers from
FEMA, the FBI, State and New York
City Emergency Management Offices.
It includes specialty courses flank-
ing the conference like bookends, allow-
ing participants to come early and staylate to get the training they want:
three-day Aerospace Education
School, Oct. 11, 12 and 14.
two-day Corporate Learning
Course (CLC), Oct. 12 and 14.
two-day Squadron Leadership
School, Oct. 12 and 14.
It boasts a military banquet with
live entertainment provided by the
319th Army Band, plus a performance
by USAF Honor Guards four-person
drill team from Washington, D.C.
In addition, the conference has
two guests of honor: CAP National
Commander Maj. Gen. Charles L.
Carr and National Vice CommanderBrig. Gen. Joseph R. Vazquez.
This issue of NINER
debuts at the Northeast
Region Conference, tak-ing place Oct. 12-14 at
the Long Island Hilton
in Melville, NY.
Astronaut Story Musgrove
Scientist Mark Clampin
Maj. Gen. Charles Carr
Brig. Gen. Joseph Vazquez
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NER STEPPING UP MISSIONS AND TRAININGCommanders Message by Col. Christopher Hayden
Col. Christopher Hayden
In this coming new fiscal
year CAP and CAP-USAF
will be implementing some
major changes that will im-
pact the way we have operat-
ed for the past decade. First,we have just lost our State
Directors who have been our
front line supporters and the
people who have made pos-
sible our good relations with
the bases in the Northeast
and have enabled us to pro-
fessionally perform our duties
as the Air Force Auxiliary. To
assist the wings with main-
taining these relations andduties, we have introduced
a new region level position
known as Wing Coordina-
tors. In the Northeast Region
only one of the former State
Directors will be continuing;
however, that position has
changed and is now known
as the Assistant Director of
Operation or ADO. Second,
CAP has made several majorchanges in its corporate gov-
ernance. Our National Com-
mander is now the CEO and
the Executive Director is now
the COO. The election of the
National Commander has
been replaced with selection
by the Board of Governors,
and the National Board andNational Executive Commit-
tee are now the Command
Advisory Group and CAP
Senior Advisory Group.
Over the past year the NER
has excelled as a leader in
regional level operations, the
regional glider and power
flight academy programs
and the development of new
missions. We held two multi-wing exercises which have
resulted in the development
of the Area Coordination
Program and outstanding co-
operation between our wings.
Our glider program has be-
come the standard across all
the regions thanks to our ded-
icated glider teams under the
direction of Col Linker. Thisyear we held four cadet glider
academies, two in the south
of the region and two in the
north. As a result of this very
successful program we will
be receiving a winch launch
system and two more gliders.
The winch launch system
will give us a mobile capacity
that will enable us to bring
glider flying to many moreparts of the region. This year
we held our fourth National
Powered Flight Academy in
Maine under the directorship
of Colonel Leclair. I wish to
thank all the wings that pro-
vided aircraft for this week-
long academy and ask them
to please reserve the dates to
help again next year. We have
added many new missions toour program including fire
watch, bug watch, low level
route surveys and air defense
intercept training.
This coming year holds
several new challenges for
everyone. Our greatest concer
is the possible loss of up to te
of our aircraft. This loss is the
equivalent of all the aircraftin two wings. The only way
we can combat this loss is by
increasing the depth of our E
qualified personnel, especially
our number of mission pilots
and observers. Over the next
year we need to increase our
average number of mission
pilots per aircraft from 2-3 to
4-5. To help achieve this goal,
the NER will be holding aweek long Mission Aircrew
School and will be focusing
on helping the wings train
members in all the Emergenc
Services Specialties.
Most importantly our
concern is being sure you as
our members are getting the
training and opportunities tha
make your membership worth
while and fulfilling. Thankyou all for you do for Civil Ai
Patrol, our communities and
our nation.
NEW YORK EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SEES CAP AS PART OF TEAM
By Capt. Robert Stronach
LAKE GEORGE -- Noting that the
robust capability of the Civil Air Pa-
trol came to New Yorks attention in the
wake of last years Hurricane Irene and
Tropical Storm Lee, the states director
of emergency management told the New
York Wing Conference May 5 that he was
offering CAP a seat on the states Emer-
gency Operations Center.
Youre part of our team, said Steven
Kuhr, who spent 20 years with New York
Citys emergency management office and
Fire Department prior to being appointed
the state OEM director by Gov. Andrew
Cuomo. Since recently meeting with Wing
Commander Col. Jack Ozer, he said he ha
already called on CAP aircrews to perform
wildfire missions for the Department of
Environmental Conservation.
Thats an example of the very aggres-
sive way were planning to use the Civil A
Patrol.
Kuhr noted that he had Colonel Ozer
and Wing Emergency Services Director
Maj. Darren Cioffi give a capability briefing
to key players involved in the Emergency
Operations Center (among them, National
Guard, State Police, state duty officers, En-
vironmental Conservation, Department of
Transportation and fire officials).Steven Kuhr
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summer-fall 2012 NINER magazine 5
By 1st Lt. Diana Hayes
SPRINGFIELD, VT
Northeast Region Com-
mander Col. Chris Hayden
and Glider Centers of Excel-lence Director Col. Jim Linker
reviewed the inflight and
ground support action at Hart-
ness State Airport in Spring-
field, VT during two days of
the Northeast Region Glider
Centers of Excellence third of
four academies. The Spring-
field Academies were hosted
for the third year by the Cata-
mount Composite Squadron,
VT-007, based at the airport.Academies 1 and 2 are held in
Pennsylvania in July.
Cols. Hayden and Linker
met with several pilots and
with Catamont Commander
Lt. Col. Tom Hayes, who was
overseeing ground operations
and logistics of cadet care.
The gliders, a Schweitzer
SGS2-33A and a Super Blan-
ik L-23, which are based at
Hartness State Airport, had
been towed to Pennsylvania
in July. Both gliders were re-
turned, and a second Blanik
from Pennsylvania joined
them the day before the open-
ing of the first Springfield
program. The assembling of
these gliders was the second
order of business for the
opening of the academy and
followed on the heels of ca-det orientation given by Lt.
Col. Charles Freeman, who
directs the cadet aspects of
the flight component. Glider
pilots Major John Williams
of Massachusetts Wing and
Lt. Col. Phil Jones of New
Jersey Wing arrived to assist
with orientation activities.
Cols. Hayden and Linker
were given a rundown of the
NER LEADERS VISIT GLIDER CENTER OF EXCELLENCE
For Cadets, Glider Academies Are Simply Awesome
performance capabilities of
each glider by Lt. Col. Free-
man. Both men are pilots
and have a great interest in
making the glider academies
an outstanding experience for
cadets and the all-volunteer
staff, who devote weeks and
months to the program with
energy and commitment.
The Region visitors ob-
served the cadets practicing
flight line duties. They must
make preflight checks before
each tow. The tow ropes are
checked and the gliders are
given a once over. Have any
obstructions occurred on the
runway? Is the runway beingshared with general aviation?
Often it is. The 12 cadets,
divided into three flights,
must position each glider
on the runway, assist with
strapping in the cadet trainee,
make sure the canopy is se-
cured and the tow rope cor-
rectly attached. A cadet wing
walker supports a wing and
has learned arm signals to
Cadet wing walker supports the gliders wing and signals the tow pilot when to move forward for
takeoff. INSET: Cols. Jim Linker and Chris Hayden inspect glider. Photos by 1st Lt. Diana Hayes.
let the tow pilot know when
he can begin to move his
plane, the Maule, forward
and get the glider airborne.
Upon landing the cadets on
the ground must be ready to
help the cadet flight member
exit and secure the glider or
get it ready for another flight.
This progression of activity
is repeated throughout day-
light hours into the evening.
Training flights are expected
to last about 15 minutes soar-
ing time once launched from
the tow, but perfect weather
conditions including thermals
that are caught in the midst
of a climb can cause a flightto go on much longer.
The academy goal is to get
12 cadets 20 flights each in
seven days. How quickly this
happens and if it happens is
weather dependent, but the
record for both Pennsylvania
and Vermont in the last two
years has been excellent. The
final day of the last Spring-
field academy in 2011 had to
be dropped due to the mas-
sive hurricane, Irene, which
pummeled the Northeast, but
with plenty of warning all 24
flights were completed and
graduation took place a day
early.
Pennsylvania Academy Di-rector Capt. Paul Finestone
was quick to point out, Our
goal for the cadets is not to ge
them to pre-solo, or even solo
though they are surely focuse
on that. And we love it when
it is right. The academies are
meant to teach them the disci
pline of aviation, of safety an
undivided attention to detail
and to have a great time justlearning to soar. We are proud
to pin those silver wings on at
the graduation ceremony, but
they have to be EARNED!
And to quote several cadets
An awesome time. Awe-
some! The Springfield 2012
Academies had five 2011 re-
turning cadets. It must be tha
soaring 20 times in a week is
its own reward.
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6 NINER magazine summer-fall 2012
Maj. Grant Sussy, a member of
New York Wings Catskill Moun-
tain Group staff, made the head-
lines in NewsDay and the Gos-
hen Chronicle July 31 when the
Federal Aviation Administration
presented him with the Eastern
Region Administrators Award.
Sussey, the general manager
of Orange County Airport, was
3 NER CADETS AT CIVIC LEADERSHIP ACADEMY IN D.C.
Cadet 1st Lt. Ezekiel
Mathur, Northeast Philadel-
phia Composite Squadron
104, Pennsylvania Wing.
It is the opportunity of
a lifetime, said Maj. Gen.
Chuck Carr, CAP national
commander. The cadets
leave this activity with a well-
rounded understanding of
government leadership, public
service and the principles that
guide our nation. In turn, we
expect them to apply those
Its an annual rite of late
winter for Civil Air Patrol ca-
dets at least for the 24 luckyenough to be chosen to partic-
ipate in CAPs Civic Leader-
ship Academy, which is held
each February in Washing-
ton, D.C., in conjunction with
CAPs Legislative Day and
Winter National Board meet-
ing. The weeklong academy
is one of the nations premier
civic education activities, pro-
viding top cadets with a head
start on public service careers.
Three of the cadets were
from the Northeast Region:
Cadet Lt. Col. Bryan
Park, Gen. Jimmy Stewart
Composite Squadron, New
Jersey Wing.
Cadet 2nd Lt. Ryan Mo-
ran, Allentown Composite
Squadron, New Jersey Wing.
principles to their lives and be
thoughtful participants and
leaders in Americas future.
In addition to a blend of
field trips, lectures, seminars
and assigned readings from
historic and current sources,
the cadets visit the U.S. Capi-
tol; the Supreme Court; the
State Department; Arlington
National Cemetery, laying a
wreath at the Tomb of the Un-
known Soldier; the CIA; the
Pentagon; the FBI Academy
in Quantico, Va.; legislative of
fices; and the Smithsonian Air
and Space Museum, as wellas the World War II, Korean
War Veterans, Vietnam Veter-
ans, Women in Military Ser-
vice and Lincoln memorials.
At each location they hear
from VIPs who provide in-
sights designed to deepen the
cadets understanding of gov-
ernment in action. Their tasks
culminate with a final project
a presentation on their ex-
perience to their peers in their
home squadrons and wings.
The cadets are not just
learning about government
but are interacting with their
government, learning the
power of one individual and a
small group becoming agents
for change, said Lt. Col. Bill
Brockman, activity director.
FAA HONORS NY WING MEMBER
The winter session of the Northeast Region Cadet
Leadership School (RCLSW) takes place Dec. 26
to Jan. 1 at the National Guard Regional Training
Institute, Center Strafford, NH.
Application deadline is Oct. 17. Cadets may apply
in person at the Region Conference or online at
rclsw.nhcapcadets.org.
Prerequisite: Cadet Senior NCOs to cadetmajors, graduate of a basic encampment.
Cost is $125 with $50 due at time of applica-
tion.
Completion of this course allows cadets to at-
tain their Eaker Award (c/LtC). Activities run the spec-
trum from lectures on planning and management, hands-on
leadership challenges and exercises, case studies
and discussions on failed leadership, visits and
discussions with retired and active military offi-
cers, and more.
For junior NCOs there is an NCO Academy
running concurrently with RCLSW. Visit the
the activity website for more information:
ncols.nhcapcadets.orgSenior support needed. Any adult member
(or parent) interested in assisting with this ac-
tivity should contact the school commander.
Questions may be addressed to School Com-
mander Maj. Joshua McGary at [email protected].
Like RCLSW on Facebook for updates and information.
NER CADET LEADERSHIP SCHOOL DURING DECEMBER WINTER BREAK
cited for being a consummate pro-
fessional when an aircraft crashed
shortly after takeoff. He immedi-
ately notified the FAA and local
authorities, provided critical in-
formation regarding the crash cir-
cumstances, equipment to clear a
path through the thickets to access
the aircraft, and video evidence to
aid in the investigation.
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summer-fall 2012 NINER magazine 7
CONN. WOMAN RECALLS WWII SERVICESTRATFORD SQUADRON HONORS HER AT BANQUET
planes and boats that might be
creeping along the horizon.
We felt like we were part of the
war effort, said Lippolis, now 85
and, after nearly seven decades,
finally enjoying recognition for her
work. During a January banquet for
the Stratford Eagles Civil Air Patrol
squadron, Lippolis accepted praise
on behalf of Flight A, the all-female
group of cadets from Norwalk.
How Lippolis came to share her
decades-old story can be attributed
to Alec Albright, a 14-year-old ca-
det in the Stratford squadron who
has been working to have the Con-
gressional Gold Medal awarded toWorld War II CAP members.
Judith Calandrelli
Lippolis, above, and
in her CAP uniform
during World War II,
right.
In the summer of 1944, Judith
Calandrelli Lippolis spent 20
hours flying high above Danbury,
Conn., in a two-seat, Piper Cub,
The Hour online newspaper
reported last January. The then
18-year-old girl spent many more
hours hitchhiking back to South
Norwalk every weekend, where
she lived with her Italian family
and served as a member of Civil
Air Patrol
At the Norwalk Armory, as
World War II raged overseas,
Lippolis (then Judith Calandrelli)
was among 30 young women
learning to navigate, fly and rec-ognize the markings of German
By Capt. Peter Milano
DANBURY, CT Members
of the 399th Danbury Compos-
ite Squadron served as honor
guard over an archaeological
dig in Wooster Cemetery where
the remains of Albert Afraid
of Hawk were being exhumed
for return to his family in South
Dakota.
Albert Afraid, a member of
the Oglala Lakota tribe, was
born about 1898 on the Pine
Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota.
He traveled as a performer
with Buffalo Bills Wild West
Show, which was in Danburyon June 28, 1900. After the
show, Alfred and other per-
formers became ill from what
is suspected to have been food
poisoning. Only Albert suc-
cumbed to the illness. William
F. Buffalo Bill Cody paid for
Alberts grave, which remained
unmarked and unknown until
2008 when cemetery records
were found identifying the site.
On August 15, 2012, after
days of digging, Connecticut
State Archaeologist Nicholas F.
Bellantoni unearthed Alberts
remains.
It was at this point that Maj.
Jim Vigar, commander of the
399th Danbury Composite
Squadron, was contacted by
CONN. MEMBERS PROVIDE HONOR GUARD AT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG
399th Danbury Composite Squadron members on the rst night watch in Wooster Cemetery,
Danbury, CT: (l to r) C/Staff Sgt Scott Padron, Squadron Commander Maj. Jim Vigar, and C/2nd Lt.Elizabeth Bell. (Photo by Capt. Peter Milano)
the Danbury mayors office for
support to ensure the integrity
of the site.
Over four nights, on 12-hour
shifts, cadet and senior mem-
bers stood watch over Alberts
remains.
It has been an honor for our
squadron to be able to assist in
the return of Albert to his fam-
ily, said Major Vigar.
This is a perfect example of
service before self. Cadet and
senior members of the 399th
Danbury composite Squadron
stepped up to serve, know-
ing how important this was to
Alberts family.
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8 NINER magazine summer-fall 2012
CAP dignitaries attending the dedication at the New England Air Museum included, from left, Col. Bryan Cooper (NER director of recruiting and
retention), Lt. Col. Axel Ostling (CAP historian team), Col. Merrie Knightly (NER vice commander north), NER Commander Col. Chris Hayden,
Leonard Blascovich (CAP historian emeritus), Lt. Col. Karen Cooper (NER director of aerospace education), Col. Cassandra Huchko (CT Wing
commander), and Col. Fred Herbert (NER historian).
CONN. WWII PILOT NOW REMEMBERED AT MUSEUM
NER HISTORIAN RECOUNTS STORY OF LT. ANDRE MAYEby Col. Fred Herbert
NER Historian
At Connecticut Wing con-
ferences, the master of cer-
emonies would ask:
Col. Herbert, is the wing
assembled? I would respond:
All are present or accounted
for, with the exception of Lt.
Welles Bishop, died during a
wartime mission, September
1943, flying coastal patrol
out of Bar Harbor, and, Lt.
Andre E. Maye, died doing a
wartime mission, 1943, flying
courier service out of BradleyField.
At the beginning of World
War II, just after the 38th
anniversary of the Wright
Brothers flight at Kitty Hawk,
Lieut. Maye joined the Civil
Air Patrol. He had already
received his pilots license and
owned his second aircraft.
The US military did not have
trained aircrews or aircraftnecessary to carry out the
early wartime functions of
anti-submarine surveillance,
target towing, searchlight
tracking, and transportation
of documents, supplies, and
personnel between contrac-
tors facilities and military
installations. Civilian pilots,
that he would give to the
CAP for display (including a
magnificent jacket, or mili-
tary blouse, that his widow,
Anna Maye, now 98, had
kept in perfect condition).
CAP and the New England
Air Museum held a dedica-
tion ceremony Sept. 9 for a
display of Lieutenant Mayes
artifacts at the museum, lo-
cated at Bradley Internationa
Airport in Windsor Locks,
CT.
In addition to the jacket,
the display includes such
items as the front page ofthe Gardner, Mass. newspa-
per containing an article of
Mayes death, CAP docu-
ments, and pilots log book.
The Maye family was ec-
static. It was wonderful that
Anna Maye, Lieutenant
Mayes widow, could attend
the ceremony.
using their civilian aircraft,
flying for CAP, performed
these functions.
Lieutenant Maye joined
CAPs courier service in
January of 1942. When fly-
ing an aircraft mechanic from
Bradley Field to Grenier
Army Airfield in Manchester,
New Hampshire, September,
1943, he encountered engine
problems and he and his pas-
senger were killed in a crash
landing.
After discovering a pos-
sible relative of Lieutenant
Maye -- Andre E. Maye, inCheshire, CT -- I mailed
a letter to him, explaining
my research and asked him
if he were a relative, and if
so, did he have any of the
lieutenants artifacts. Andy
called me, said he was one
of Lieut. Mayes sons, and
that there were war artifacts
Lt. Andre Maye
1942 CAP ID photo
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summer-fall 2012 NINER magazine 9
By Capt. Reid J. Leonard
MASSACHUSETTS
When members, family,
friends and guests of the
Hanscom Composite Squad-
ron gathered for a traditional
dining-out mess to celebrate
the 2011 activities and ac-
complishments, the occasion
was made even more special
by the keynote speaker Dr.
Shelia E. Widnall, secretary
of the Air Force from 1993
to 1997.
Widnall emphasized the
importance of core values toguide both professional and
personal conduct. As Air
Force secretary, she promul-
gated the service branchs
current core values: integ-
rity first, service before self
and excellence in all we do.
Those concepts form the ba-
sis for Civil Air Patrols core
values: integrity, volunteer
MASS. SQUADRON HEARS SPECIAL SPEAKER
FORMER AIR FORCE SECRETARY EMPHASIZES CORE VALUES
service, excellence and re-
spect.
Recalling her childhood
near Tacoma, Wash., Wid-
nall said her interest in avia-
tion was kindled by watching
military aircraft arrive and
depart from nearby McChord
Air Force Base. That fasci-
nation led her to graduate
degrees and a tenured faculty
appointment at MIT in aero-
dynamics and astronautics,
where she has also served as
chairwoman of the engineer-
ing faculty and associate
provost.
Appointed as secretary
of the Air Force in 1993 by
President Bill Clinton, Wid-
nall was the first female to
serve in that role. She was a
strong supporter for modern-
ization of the Air Force and
also promoted measures to
improve the quality of life for
personnel and their families.
Addressing the Hansom ca-
dets, Widnall stressed the need
to build a strong network to
help one achieve professional
success. She encouraged each
cadet to seek a mentor and, in
turn, to serve as a mentor to
those who follow.After her speech, Widnall
presented the Gen. Billy
Mitchell Award to Cadet
2nd Lt. Julianne Braden, a
sophomore and Navy ROTC
midshipman at Georgia Tech
The squadron presented a
plaque to Widnall to com-
memorate her participation
in the event.
Former Air Force Secretary Shelia Widnall addressses Hanscome
Composite Squadron. Photo by Capt. Reid Leonard.
By Capt. Robert Stronach
ITHACA, NY -- A massive
weekend search for a missing
82-year-old woman ended
Monday afternoon, March 5,
when a Civil Air Patrol pilot
spotted her body in a field in
the Town of Lansing abouttwo-and-a-half miles north-
west of Ithaca-Tompkins Re-
gional Airport.
I circled overhead and no-
tified a search team that was
in the area, reported Capt.
Vincent Monticello. A forest
ranger arrived and confirmed
that it was the missing wom-
an, who was deceased.
Johanna Kirkwood, who
suffered from dementia, had
been missing from her home
since noon Saturday, the
Tompkins County Sheriffs
Department said. Undersher-
iff Derek Osborne said law
enforcement, under the lead-
ership of state forest rangers,conducted extensive ground
searches.
Weather prevented aerial
support until Monday, when
mission pilots Monticello and
Lt. Col. Larry Brinker went
up in a plane in the morning.
Monticello went up again in
the afternoon.
About 45 minutes into the
flight, at about 3:30 p.m., I
spotted something in a field
that I thought could be Mrs.
Kirkwood, he said.
Tompkins County Emer-
gency Management Director
Lee Shurtleff told searchers
that the woman was lo-
cated in an area between EastShore Drive and Triphammer
Road, having been spotted by
the Civil Air Patrol.
Shurtleff reported that
some 500 searchers had
logged in at the Emergency
Response Center, including
200 from local fire and EMS
agencies. He said there were
search crews from as far away
as Long Island and New
Jersey, who were part of a
search-and-rescue federation
that works with the Depart-
ment of Environmental Con-
servation forest rangers.
The scope of the incident
by far exceeded anything
seen here in recent years,and while not the outcome
we had worked for, it none-
theless demonstrated the
tremendous capability of our
many agencies and partners,
Shurtleff said.
Our key principles of co-
operation, coordination and
communication were evident
and abundant.
NY WING PILOT SPOTS BODY OF MISSING WOMAN
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10 NINER magazine summer-fall 2012
MAINE WING AIRCREWS PERFORM FIREWATCH MISSIONS
By Capt. Mary Story
Maine Wing aircrews ar-rived at the Old Town Air-
port in April to participate
in Fire Watch refresher and
training along with members
of the Maine Warden Ser-
AIRCREWS PARTICIPATE IN FIRE WATCH TRAINING WITH MAINE WARDEN SERVICE
ABOVE: Col. Dan Leclair, Maine Wing commander, pre-
ights before he departs on his Fire Watch from Auburn/
Lewiston Airport.
ABOVE LEFT: Capt. Dave Barker checks aircraft before
his Fire Watch ight in Augusta.
LEFT: Captain Barker ies the Fire Watch over Sebago
Lake in southern Maine
Maine aircrew members who took Fire Watch training with the Maine Warden Service.
vice.
Air crews have been assist-
ing the Warden Service since2009.
Aircraft from CAP find
fires faster, so the fires are
smaller, use fewer man
hours, and fires under control
cannot consume as many
resources such as timber,
homes and even lives.Maine Wing pilots con-
tinue the fire patrols on five
state-wide routes.
Maine Warden Service offi-
cials say they are very pleased
with the professionalism
shown by the Maine Wing
aircrews.Air crews from Portland,
Auburn/Lewiston, Augusta,
Bangor and Caribou were
on call 24/7 for the 2012 fire
season.
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summer-fall 2012 NINER magazine 11
AERIAL PHOTOS ALLOW
NH TO WARN PUBLIC
NH SQUADRONS INVITE PUBLIC TO TOUCH A PLANE
CAP PARTNERS WITH RUN FOR THE FALLENBy Maj. Penny Hardy
In May New Hampshire
Wings Seacoast and Man-
chester Squadrons sponsored
a Touch-A-Plane event at
Port City Air near the Pease
ANG Base to foster aware-
ness of Civil Air Patrol. The
squadrons partnered with
Run for the Fallen NH to split
the proceeds between the two
organizations.
As part of her senior
project for her Associate in
Applied Science degree inCommunity Leadership at the
University of New Hamp-
shire, Lori Parent, mother of
the Seacoast Squadron Cadet
Commander Adam Parent,
organized the event with help
from the squadrons senior
members. She said the reason
she wanted to do this was be-
cause CAP has done so much
for her son and she wanted togive back to CAP.
The squadrons showcased
much of what they do with
DDR, Emergency Services,
Communications and recruit-
ing areas. It was planned to
have six aircraft on display,
but due to a heavy fog and
low ceilings only three aircraft
were able to get there. The ca-
dets helped the attendees get a
close-up look at the airplanes.
They also did a bit of drill to
show off their expertise.
In addition to the CAP
displays, the National Guard
Thanks to aerial photos by New Hampshire
Wing aircrews in February that showed treacher-
ous ice conditions on Lake Winnipesaukee, the
state Fish and Game Department warned the
public to use caution before venturing onto the ice,
especially with the start of the Meredith Rotary
Ice Fishing Derby on the states largest lake. The
photos, such as the one at left, showed numerous
cracks and large river-like strips of open water.
New Hampshire cadets are rady to talk aviation as they encourage the public to get up close to
a variety of aircraft. Photo by Maj. Peter Blais.
had a display booth with a
mini aircraft, and Run for the
Fallen displayed their infor-
mation on how they have
a run each year to support
those who have lost friends
or family members in the
service. There was also a face
painting booth.
Last but not least was a fire
truck from Exeter and one
from the Pease Fire Depart-
ment on display along with
food vendors. The latter gave
a portion of their proceeds to
CAP and Run for the Fallen.
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12 NINER magazine summer-fall 2012
NY MISSION BASE ENHANCES ARMY GUARDS RESPONSEAVIATION UNIT DEPLOYS TO GRIFFISS AIRPORT FOR DISASTER RELIEF
By Lt. Col. Steve Perta
Last year New York Wing
underwent its USAF Evalu-
ation Exercise, which exam-ined the wings ability to exe-
cute search & rescue, disaster
relief and Homeland Security
tasking. Operating from Com-
mand, Control and Commu-
nications (C3 ) facilities at the
Griffiss International Airport
in Rome, NY, the wing scored
an outstanding on this evalu-
ation.
Little was it known that
those capabilities soon would
be called upon -- when the
Northeast was ravaged with
back-to-back storms, Hur-
ricane Irene and Tropical
Storm Lee. While numer-
ous wings were tasked with
many disaster relief missions,
a unique event took place
within New York. The Illinois
Army National Guard was
activated to deploy a Disaster
Relief Aviation Regiment,
using Griffiss International
Airport in Central New York
as a staging area.
From this location, armyhelicopters would deploy
to support flood relief op-
erations into adjoining states
such as Vermont. New York
Wing was asked to host the
Operations Center for this
Regiment as part of the Air-
ports Emergency Plan.
CAP mission base facilities
would host the Regiments
Command and Control func-
tions while the FBO provided
ramp and re-fueling support
and the Airport Commission-
ers Office worked billeting
and other logistical activities.
In particular, CAP VHF and
HF radio communications
equipment were used by the
guard to maintain communi-
cations with helicopters that
were deployed on sorties.
The CAP turn-key facility
containing radio equipment,
networked computers with
internet capability, command,
briefing, and operational facil-
ities allowed the Army Guardto arrive and immediately be-
gin operations without logisti-
cal set-up delays.
CAP support personnel
included Lt. Col. Gerald Mar-
ketos, Maj. Charles Hereth,
Capt. John McKeown and
other members of Central
New York Group. As the op-
eration was wrapping up and
the Aviation Regiment was
preparing to depart back to
Illinois, a Blackhawk helicop-
ter developed a mechanical
issue that grounded it. A CAP
Aircrew consisting of Lt.
Colonel Marketos and Cap-
tain McKeown was tasked to
fly the failed mechanical part
along with an Army Guard
mechanic to the Rochester
International Airport in West-
ern New York, where a simi-
lar Army Guard Blackhawk
unit was stationed. There the
defective part was overhauled
while the CAP aircrew wait-
ed, and once repaired, the air-crew flew the Guard mechan-
ic and part back to Griffiss.
The repaired mechanical part
allowed the final helicopter to
depart for home.
In a report to Oneida
County officials, then-Avia-
tion Commissioner Vernon
Gray noted: Our plans and
preparations to support such
an event, in cooperation with
the New York Wing of the
Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and
the FBO, proved to be quite
sufficient to the task. We were
able to make the Armys tran-
sition to conducting opera-
tions here very smooth, and
they were immediately able
to concentrate on their mis-
sion Congratulations on a
job well done.
CAP aircrew poses for photo with Headquarters, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard.
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summer-fall 2012 NINER magazine 13
by Maj. Sharon Brana
Civil Air Patrol members
were called on to search for
eight missing persons lost
and wandering through Hun-
tingtons West Hills Park aftera van accident.
Also participating in the
search were the Melville Vol-
unteer Fire Department, the
Huntington Community First
Aid Squad, and Long Island
Search and Rescue K9 teams.
Luckily, the search was part
of an exercise conducted by
New York Wing Search and
Rescue Training Academy in
West Hills Park. The mock
victims came from the Mel-
ville and Huntington agencies.
In all, 62 participants were
involved, including a pair of
search and rescue dogs, as
were two ambulances, one
fire rescue truck, two John
Deere Gators six-wheeled
all-terrain vehicles used for
extrication of victims and
two mobile communicationsunits linking the local emer-
One aircrew included pilots Capt. Vincent Monticello and Lt. Col.
Larry Brinker.
gency units and CAP.
The CAP members were
training students from the
Long Island and South East-
ern groups, along with one
cadet from the Maryland
Wing. A pair of Long Island
Search and Rescue members
completed their Remote Wil-
derness Field Medic training
at the academy.
The participating agencies
were tasked with working
together to locate, treat and
retrieve the simulated victims,
who were made up with mou-
lage and positioned in various
locations.Those involved were all Na-
tional Incident Management
System-trained, and the ex-
ercise was a rare opportunity
for them to put their training
into practice. A unified com-
mand was set up, with each
agency having an incident
commander directing his own
people, with the individual
incident commanders in turn
forming a coordinated multi-
agency task force.
One of the most important
outcomes was that the simu-
lated victims were rescued
expeditiously, said Capt.
Dave Collins, operations sec-
tion chief for the exercise aswell as for the training acad-
emy. In addition, Collins said
communication worked
well, and that is the most dif-
ficult part.
This was very different
and interesting working
together with the other agen-
cies, Capt. Jeff Sukoff of
the Melville fire department
said afterward, adding that
he plans to further his depart-
ments relationship with CAP
and the Huntington agency.
Added Deputy Chief Tim
Ebert of the Huntington Com
munity First Aid Squad, This
was very good I learned a
lot about CAP. I had actuallynever heard of them before.
NY SAR ACADEMY BRINGS TOGETHER 4 AGENCIES
By Lt. Dan Babcock
NEWFIELD, NY South
Central Group search-and-res-
cue teams trained with New
York State Forest Rangers
and Tompkins County Search
and Rescue in May. Air andground crews departed for
a rendezvous point in the
Connecticut Hill State For-
est in the town of Newfield.
On the first sortie, aircrews
directed the ground team to
some obscure manmade ob-
jects. Ground crews set up a
search pattern while aircrews
provided direction from above
NY CREWS TRAIN WITH FOREST RANGERS, COUNTY SEARCH & RESCUE
NY Wing members sign in and check equipment at the wing SAR Academy. Photo by Capt. Wayne Smith.
via air to ground radio. After
completing this mission, the
aircrew returned to Ithaca
Airport to swap crew mem-
bers while the ground team
prepared for the second and
more challenging mission.
For the second mission, crews
were searching for two role
players who were bedded
down in two separate fields.
One simulated a lost person
and the other, deceased. After
about five minutes of search-ing, aircrews spotted the first
victim and directed Ground
Team #1 in for the rescue.
Not long after, aircrews
spotted the second victim
on the edge of a field ap-
proximately three quarters
of a mile from the first and
directed Ground Team #2 in
for the recovery.
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14 NINER magazine summer-fall 2012
HARRISBURG, PA Dr. Daniel
J. Benny of Harrisburg, a Civil Air
Patrol major who holds the securitydiscipline chair with Embry-Riddle
Aeronautical University World-
wide, is the author of a new book
published by CRC Press General
Aviation Security: Aircraft, Hangars,
Fixed Base Operations, Flight Schools
and Airports.
Benny, assistant safety officer with
Capital City Composite Squadron
302, says its the first textbook writ-
ten on general aviation security.
PA MEMBERS JOIN MULTI-WING TRAINING EXERCISEBy 2nd Lt. Jennifer Lichlyter
HARRISBURG, PA --
Squadrons throughout Penn-
sylvania participated in a
multi-state training exercise
(TRAEX) in August.Six aircraft flew 23 sorties
throughout the Common-
wealth, and three ground
teams were launched in the
Harrisburg and Philadel-
phia areas to assess dam-
age caused by a fictitious
derecho, a wide-spread,
violent wind storm caus-
ing extensive fire, flood and
tornado damage throughout
Pennsylvania, New York and
New Jersey.
Aerial imagery was a
primary mission for this
TRAEX, said Lt. Col. Bob
Meinert, incident commander
for this event. CAP has dem-
onstrated we are good at it,
and a very cost-effective re-
source to assist local, state and
federal agencies.
In addition to training
members for actual emer-
gency situations, the North-
east Region was assessing the
effectiveness of a Northeast
Region Area Command pro-
gram designed to coordinate
emergency service assets
to respond across multiple
states, in the event of a large-
scale disaster.
The Incident Command
Post for Pennsylvania was lo-
cated at Capital City Airport
in New Cumberland, Pa.
Also, PA Group 2 Commu-nications Officer Maj. Don
Inscho, and Maj. Skip Walls,
Assistant Communications
Officer from Lancaster, Pa.,
Squadron 304 established a
mobile communications unit
with the latest radio technol-
ogy to allow air and ground
teams to communicate with
each other, the Incident Com
mand Post, and the North-
east Region Area Command
Center. This was the first
time they used the new mo-
bile communications unit.
LEGISLATIVE DAY
IN WASHINGTONCivil Air Patrol members from all
50 states as well as the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands converged
on Capitol Hill on March 1 to
brief congressional members onhow CAPs primary missions of
emergency services, aerospace
education and cadet programs
make a difference in their com-
munities. Twenty-ve members of
the Pennsylvania Wing represent-
ing 18 of the Commonwealths 19
congressional districts participat-
ed in the annual networking event
on Capitol Hil -- including Cadet
Senior Master Sgt Jessica Bower,
Harrisburg International Compos-
ite Squadron 306.Photo by 2nd Lt. JenniferLichlyter
YORK, PA - Jackson Township supervisors honored first re-
sponders, including the Civil Air Patrol, for their cooperation
and professionalism during the response to two plane crashes in
the area, the York Daily Record reported May 3.
Each was awarded framed copies of a resolution honoring
their work. The York Squadron was among those being hon-
ored, along with several fire departments and rescue squads.
On Dec. 22, 2011, and then again on Jan. 29 this year, single
engine planes crashed in fields near and on approach to the
York Airport, in the township, resulting in the pilots deaths.
The resolution congratulates the responders, who it states dili-
gently recovered the victims and secured the crash scenes until
investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration and
National Transportation Safety Board arrived.
PENNSYLVANIA TOWN HONORS CAP, FIRST RESPONDERS
Aircrew comes in for landing over Cumberland, PA
PA OFFICER PENS
SECURITY BOOK
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summer-fall 2012 NINER magazine 15
Rhode Island
Wing cadets
were out in
force this past
June providing
support for the
National Guard
Air Show at
Quonset State
Airport.
NEW YORK MEMBER HELPS SAVE LIFE ON AIRLINER
ACTS AS FIRST RESPONDER FOR HEART ATTACK VICTIM
By Capt. Carolynn Fillgrove
A Jamestown Squadron se-
nior member has been honored
by Western New York Group
with a Certificate of Recogni-
tion for Life Saving.
Second Lt. Michael E.
Seeley was on a U.S. Airways
flight en route to Charlotte,
N.C., from Aruba on June
27, 2011 when an elderly pas-
senger suffered a minor heart
attack and was unconscious.
Lieutenant Seeley, a licensed
Emergency Medical Techni-
cian, found himself to be the
first responder. He assessed the
patient, administered oxygen,
and stabilized him. Then us-
ing limited first aid supplies (a
blood pressure cuff), he impro-
vised with an iPod ear piece
to make a broken stethoscope
functional. With these tools,
he continued to monitor the
patients blood pressure, heart,
and lung sounds throughout
the rest of the flight.
When the patient became
responsive, Lieutenant Seeley
helped move him to another
area of the airplane to permit
the man to lie down with his
feet slightly elevated. Once
there, the patients vital signs
improved slightly and he was
given orange juice in modera-
tion. Because changes in posi-
tion resulted in diminished
vital signs, the lieutenant
instructed the patient to re-
main lying on the floor for the
remainder of the flight.
Although the patient showed
slight improvement, the flight
was given medical emergency
priority status direct to Char-
lotte. With the lieutenants con-
tinued assistance, the patient
remained stable for the rest of
the flight. Upon arrival, the
patient was transferred to para-
medics who took over care.
A Chautauqua County Sher
iffs deputy, Lieutenant Seeley
joined CAP in 2010 and is the
squadrons safety officer.
By 2nd Lt. Jennifer Lichlyter
LANCASTER, PA Squad-
rons in south central Pennsylvania
held a search and rescue training
exercise (SAREX) on May 12 at
the Lancaster, Pa. airport.
Eighty-seven senior and cadet
members employed a number of
techniques to locate a simulated
missing aircraft, and safely evacu-
ate the injured survivors.
This was realistic training so
our members will be prepared
when they respond to an actual
emergency situation. We want
them to know what to expect.
said Lt. Col. Charles M. Bechtel,
incident commander for the event.
Personnel received training in
leadership, air and ground search-
es, cross-country navigation,
map reading, communications,
incident command, evacuation of
survivors, liaison with other agen-
cies, and other critical skills.C/CMSgt Josh Rutt marshals in one of four aircraft used
during the SAREX. Photo courtesy of Lancaster Sunday News
86 PARTICIPATE IN PA SAREX
Lt. Michael Seeley
RHODE ISLAND CADETS OUT IN FORCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD AIR SHOW
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NOTABLES AROUND THE NORTHEAST
PA CADET CANT BELIEVE SHE MET FIRST LADY MICHELLE OBAMAWhen First Lady Michelle Obama visited Pittsburgh in April, arriving at the 911th Airlift Wing of the
Air Force Command in Moon, she began to warmly greet nearly two dozen military families -- includ-
ing Pennsylvania Wing Cadet Tech. Sgt Tiaira Maloni of Golden Triangle Composite Squadron 603.Cadet Maloni reacted in joyous disbelief when the rst lady hugged her and took a moment to chat.
NJ CADETS
COMMEMORATE
SHUTTLE PROGRAMCadets from New Jerseys
Lone Eagle Composite
Squadron of Peapack-Glad-stone and Curtiss-Wright
Composite Squadron of
Faireld commemorated the
legacy of the NASA Space
Shuttle program Sept. 29 by
launching a series of hand-
made space shuttle model
rockets -- in the order of
actual shuttle missions. 1st
Lt. David Simpson, 2010 New
Jersey Aerospace Education
Ofcer of the Year, guided
the cadets.
CADETS PRESENT
COLORS FOR
NEW YORK JETSCadets of New York Wings Broome/
Tioga Composite Squadron had the
honor of serving as color guard for
the New York Jets Football Team.
Cadets Keenan Jensen, 17, Samuel
Carmen, 17, Daniel Hector, 20,
and Colin Button, 15, presented the
nations colors for a packed stadium
at the Jets versus Carolina Panthers
game, Sunday, August 26, at Met
Life Stadium, East Rutherford, New
Jersey. Walking out onto that eld
in front of 50,000 people was one
of most incredible experiences Ive
ever had, and I cant wait to do it
again! said Hector.
-- Lt. Dan Babcock
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